- Joined
- Nov 29, 2016
- Messages
- 5,674
- Points
- 63
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2019-03-03/doc-ihrfqzkc0686920.shtml
美国副防长：美国稀土供应几乎完全依赖中国
美国副防长：美国稀土供应几乎完全依赖中国
444
在五角大楼里隐藏的众多秘密中，一个“鲜为人知”的事实，惊到了美国防部主管采购的副部长埃伦·洛德。
在去年4月美国商会主办的一场演讲中，洛德对现场来宾说：“美国令人震惊地依赖中国！”
——她指的是，美国的稀土供应“几乎完全依赖中国”。
▲资料图片：埃伦·洛德
不过，在一些人看来，洛德的“震惊”却令人略感意外——美军工产业严重依赖中国稀土的问题，已经被翻炒了近10年。而在担任国防部副部长前，洛德是美国大型军工企业德事隆集团的首席执行官。作为“业内人士”，洛德都不了解内情，这显然令一些人感到“不可思议”。
美国军工产业对中国稀土的依赖究竟有多严重？美国又有多焦虑？日本《选择》月刊2018年2月号的一篇文章，复盘了美国军工产业的这一“困境”。
文章指出，美国推进的全球化使得自己的工业体系对中国产生依赖，如今却又端出“国家安全”来煽动危机，不免有些机会主义。而对特朗普政府来说，稀土问题无疑是一个无解的矛盾。参考消息网摘编文章如下：
稀土供应严重依赖中国
2016年2月，美国政府问责局发布的一份报告指出，早在近10年前，美国多个政府机构、民间智库、联邦议会等就不断声称，“美军一大半武器的制造过程中不可或缺的稀土供应，几乎全部依赖中国”。
稀有金属中，有17种特殊的元素统称为稀土，尤其镝、铕、钇等5种稀土更是制造武器所不可或缺的原材料。
根据美国议会调查局2013年发布的一份报告，弗吉尼亚级攻击型核潜艇使用了4.17吨稀土，阿利·伯克级驱逐舰使用了2.36吨稀土，F-35A战斗机使用了0.2吨稀土。此外，激光、声呐、雷达、卫星通信设备等高科技产品所需要的永久磁铁，其主要原材料也是稀土。
▲资料图片：美军F-35B短垂隐身战机
事实上，在上世纪80年代，美国国产稀土完全能够满足本国军工产业的需要，但后来在与中国进出口产品的价格竞争中，美国败下阵来。如今，中国掌握着全球80%的稀土供应。
目前，美国虽然有着丰富的稀土蕴藏量，但却没有可供商业化生产的矿山，也没有冶炼后制成零部件的产业基础。面对这种情况，要说没有危机意识那才奇怪。
不过，人们也不应该苛责埃伦·洛德。因为直到最近，美国国防部对稀土极度依赖中国的问题，总体上仍然是一副无所谓的态度。
炒作“稀土危机”近10年
2010年10月31日，彭博社报道了来自美国国防部工业政策办公室的一份未公开报告的部分内容。根据这份报告，当时奥巴马政府与日本等国一起，就中国限制稀土出口起诉至世界贸易组织（WTO），但美国防部发表的见解是“不会威胁到美国的国家安全”，“不会影响武器的生产”。
而在前文中提到的美国政府问责局的那份报告，一开始便批评称：“国防部内部有3个负责稀土的部门，但却没有采取全面的跨部门的措施，来确定哪种稀土对国家安全起决定性的重要作用。”
报告还同时指出，美国从稀土的开采到冶炼、加工的供应链都依赖中国，这让国防部可持续利用稀土变得困难。
不过，当时五角大楼发言人对此说法并不买账，称“无法苟同”。
▲资料图片：五角大楼
事实上，美国国内认识到稀土供应问题的重要程度，还是近期的事情。这些原材料不仅对于武器，对于多种多样的民生用产品也是不可或缺的。
“跟大企业的人说起这件事，所有人几乎都说同样的话：‘你到底在说什么？我们公司想要的时候，都能够随时以合适的价格买到想要的量。’”得克萨斯稀土资源公司董事安东尼·马切斯如是说。这家公司希望将来能够实现稀土开采商业化。
这他看来，美国国内对稀土供应严重依赖中国的事实缺乏“危机意识”，这股钝感风潮并未退却。
“中国已不再是普通的交易国”
不过，五角大楼的“乐观情绪”其实正在消失。
首先可以想到的一个理由是，国防部2013年10月向国会提交的“工业能力年度报告”中列举了三点，分别是实现供应源的多元化、寻找可替代原材料、废弃物循环利用。然而，5年多时间过去，这三点中没有实现任何一点。
另一个理由是，来自中国的挑战正在迎来决定性的阶段。英国汇丰控股去年9月发布的经济预测称，中国国内生产总值（GDP）2030年将达到26万亿美元，超过美国的25.2万亿美元。此外，有不少预测都指出，中国早晚会成为世界第一大经济强国。
因此，2017年12月特朗普政府发布的首份《国家安全战略报告》便表明了姿态——中国和俄罗斯是挑战美国的对手。紧接着，2018年1月美国国防部发布的《国防战略报告》，也指责中国“欲在全球确立优势以取代美国”的意图。
在美国人看来，中国已经不再是“普通的交易国”。那么，美国也应该改变稀土的对华依赖现状。
▲图为上海洋山深水港四期无人码头集装箱堆场。（方喆摄）
2018年10月，美国国防部发布题为《评估和强化制造与国防工业基础及供应链弹性》的报告。这份由特朗普授意制定的报告，列举了约300个国防产业基础的具体弱点，其中也谈到了稀土的问题。
报告称，“中国在供应对于美国国家安全来说具有战略性和致命性的武器原材料，这种危险性越来越明显且在不断增大”。整份报告有232处提到“中国”“中国人”或者“北京”。
有一个值得注意的细节是，这份报告在2017年9月便已制定，却直到2018年10月才对外发布，比原计划晚了数月。
无解的矛盾
不过，指出问题和克服问题并不是一回事。
即便特朗普政府禁止从中国进口稀土，也不可能很快就确立起自己的稀土供应链。短期来看，美国几乎没有希望摆脱这种现状。
而中方对美国国防部的报告却是“付之一笑”。
中国媒体的评论认为，在目前经济全球化的时代，没有哪个国家的工业体系能不依赖其他国家而完全自成一体，五角大楼的这份报告只是近来美国强化‘中国威胁论’的又一说辞。”
的确，美国自己推进全球化到今天这种程度，现在又端出“国家安全”来煽动危机，不免有些机会主义。
对于特朗普政府来说，稀土问题无疑是一个无解的矛盾。
US Deputy Defense Secretary: US rare earth supply is almost entirely dependent on China
US Deputy Defense Secretary: US rare earth supply is almost entirely dependent on China
444
Among the many hidden secrets in the Pentagon, a "freshly known" fact shocked Ellen Lord, the deputy director of the US Department of Defense.
In a speech hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in April last year, Lord told the guests: "The United States is shockingly dependent on China!"
-- She refers to the fact that the supply of rare earths in the United States "is almost entirely dependent on China."
▲Information Picture: Ellen Lord ▲Information Picture: Ellen Lord
However, in some people's view, Lord's "shock" is slightly unexpected - the US military industry relies heavily on China's rare earths and has been smashed for nearly 10 years. Before serving as deputy director of the Department of Defense, Lord was the CEO of Textron Group, a large US military company. As an "industry person", Lord did not understand the inside story, which obviously made some people feel "unbelievable."
How serious is the dependence of the US military industry on China's rare earths? How worried is the United States? An article in the February 2018 issue of Japan's "Choice" magazine reinstated the "difficulties" of the US military industry.
The article pointed out that the globalization promoted by the United States has made its industrial system dependent on China, but now it has brought out "national security" to incite the crisis, and there is some opportunism. For the Trump administration, the issue of rare earth is undoubtedly a contradiction. The article on the reference message network is as follows:
Rare earth supply is heavily dependent on China
In February 2016, a report issued by the US Government Accountability Office pointed out that as early as nearly 10 years ago, many US government agencies, private think tanks, and the federal parliament continued to claim that "the US military cannot manufacture more than half of its weapons." The supply of rare earths is almost entirely dependent on China."
Among the rare metals, there are 17 special elements collectively referred to as rare earths. In particular, five kinds of rare earths such as lanthanum, cerium and lanthanum are indispensable raw materials for manufacturing weapons.
According to a report released by the US Congressional Bureau of Investigation in 2013, the Virginia-class attack-type nuclear submarine used 4.17 tons of rare earth, the Ali Burke-class destroyer used 2.36 tons of rare earth, and the F-35A fighter used 0.2 tons of rare earth. In addition, permanent magnets required for high-tech products such as lasers, sonars, radars, and satellite communication equipment are also rare earths.
▲Information picture: US military F-35B short-slung stealth fighter ▲ information picture: US military F-35B short-slung stealth fighter
In fact, in the 1980s, the US-made rare earths were fully able to meet the needs of the domestic military industry, but later in the price competition with China's import and export products, the United States lost. Today, China holds 80% of the world's rare earth supply.
At present, although the United States has abundant rare earth reserves, there are no mines for commercial production, and there is no industrial basis for making parts after smelting. In the face of this situation, it is strange to say that there is no sense of crisis.
However, people should not blame Ellen Lord. Because until recently, the US Department of Defense’s reliance on China for rare earths has remained an indifferent attitude.
Hype "Rare Earth Crisis" for nearly 10 years
On October 31, 2010, Bloomberg reported part of an undisclosed report from the Office of Industrial Policy of the US Department of Defense. According to the report, the Obama administration and Japan and other countries jointly prosecuted China’s restrictions on rare earth exports to the World Trade Organization (WTO), but the US Department of Defense issued the opinion that “it will not threaten the national security of the United States”. Affect the production of weapons."
The report of the US Government Accountability Office mentioned in the previous article criticized at the outset: "There are three departments responsible for rare earths within the Ministry of National Defense, but they have not adopted comprehensive cross-sectoral measures to determine which Rare earth plays a decisive role in national security."
The report also pointed out that the US supply chain from rare earth mining to smelting and processing relies on China, which makes it difficult for the Ministry of Defense to make sustainable use of rare earths.
However, the Pentagon spokesperson did not buy this statement at the time, saying that "cannot agree."
▲Information Picture: Pentagon ▲ Information Picture: Pentagon
In fact, the importance of recognizing the supply of rare earths in the United States is still a recent matter. These raw materials are indispensable not only for weapons but also for a wide range of products for people's livelihood.
“Speaking to people in big companies, almost everyone said the same thing: 'What the hell are you talking about? When we want it, we can always buy the right amount at the right price.'” Anthony Marches, director of Texas Rare Earth Resources, said. The company hopes to commercialize rare earth mining in the future.
In this view, the fact that the domestic supply of rare earths is heavily dependent on China lacks a “crisis awareness”, and this indiscriminate trend has not retreated.
"China is no longer an ordinary trading country"
However, the "optimism" of the Pentagon is actually disappearing.
One reason that can be thought of first is that the Ministry of Defence’s “Industrial Capability Annual Report” submitted to Congress in October 2013 lists three points: diversification of supply sources, search for alternative raw materials, and recycling of waste. However, after more than five years, no point has been achieved in these three points.
Another reason is that the challenge from China is coming to a decisive stage. The economic forecast released by HSBC in September last year said that China's gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 26 trillion US dollars in 2030, surpassing the US's 25.2 trillion US dollars. In addition, many predictions have pointed out that China will soon become the world's largest economic power.
Therefore, the first National Security Strategy Report released by the Trump administration in December 2017 showed a gesture – China and Russia are rivals to the United States. Then, in January 2018, the "Defense Strategy Report" issued by the US Department of Defense also accused China of its intention to "establish an advantage in the world to replace the United States."
In the eyes of the Americans, China is no longer an "ordinary trading country." Then, the United States should also change the status quo of dependence on China.
▲The picture shows the Shanghai Ocean Deepwater Port Phase IV unmanned terminal container yard. (Photo by Fang Wei) ▲ The picture shows the container terminal of the No. 4 unmanned terminal in the offshore mountain deepwater port. (Photo by Fang Wei)
In October 2018, the US Department of Defense issued a report entitled "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defence Industry Foundation and Supply Chain Resilience." The report, commissioned by Trump, lists specific weaknesses of about 300 defense industry bases, including the issue of rare earths.
According to the report, "China's supply of weapons and raw materials that are strategic and fatal to US national security is becoming more and more obvious and growing." There are 232 references to “China”, “Chinese” or “Beijing” throughout the report.
One noteworthy detail is that the report was drafted in September 2017, but it was not released until October 2018, a few months later than originally planned.
Unsolved contradiction
However, pointing out problems and overcoming problems is not the same thing.
Even if the Trump administration bans the import of rare earths from China, it is unlikely that it will soon establish its own rare earth supply chain. In the short term, the United States has little hope of getting rid of this situation.
The Chinese report to the US Department of Defense is "pay a laugh."
The Chinese media commented that in the current era of economic globalization, no country's industrial system can be completely self-contained without relying on other countries. The Pentagon's report is only another rhetoric of the recent US strengthening of the "China threat theory." ”
Indeed, the United States itself promotes globalization to the extent that it is today, and now it has brought out "national security" to incite the crisis, and there is some opportunism.
For the Trump administration, the issue of rare earths is undoubtedly a contradiction.
美国副防长：美国稀土供应几乎完全依赖中国
美国副防长：美国稀土供应几乎完全依赖中国
444
在五角大楼里隐藏的众多秘密中，一个“鲜为人知”的事实，惊到了美国防部主管采购的副部长埃伦·洛德。
在去年4月美国商会主办的一场演讲中，洛德对现场来宾说：“美国令人震惊地依赖中国！”
——她指的是，美国的稀土供应“几乎完全依赖中国”。
不过，在一些人看来，洛德的“震惊”却令人略感意外——美军工产业严重依赖中国稀土的问题，已经被翻炒了近10年。而在担任国防部副部长前，洛德是美国大型军工企业德事隆集团的首席执行官。作为“业内人士”，洛德都不了解内情，这显然令一些人感到“不可思议”。
美国军工产业对中国稀土的依赖究竟有多严重？美国又有多焦虑？日本《选择》月刊2018年2月号的一篇文章，复盘了美国军工产业的这一“困境”。
文章指出，美国推进的全球化使得自己的工业体系对中国产生依赖，如今却又端出“国家安全”来煽动危机，不免有些机会主义。而对特朗普政府来说，稀土问题无疑是一个无解的矛盾。参考消息网摘编文章如下：
稀土供应严重依赖中国
2016年2月，美国政府问责局发布的一份报告指出，早在近10年前，美国多个政府机构、民间智库、联邦议会等就不断声称，“美军一大半武器的制造过程中不可或缺的稀土供应，几乎全部依赖中国”。
稀有金属中，有17种特殊的元素统称为稀土，尤其镝、铕、钇等5种稀土更是制造武器所不可或缺的原材料。
根据美国议会调查局2013年发布的一份报告，弗吉尼亚级攻击型核潜艇使用了4.17吨稀土，阿利·伯克级驱逐舰使用了2.36吨稀土，F-35A战斗机使用了0.2吨稀土。此外，激光、声呐、雷达、卫星通信设备等高科技产品所需要的永久磁铁，其主要原材料也是稀土。
事实上，在上世纪80年代，美国国产稀土完全能够满足本国军工产业的需要，但后来在与中国进出口产品的价格竞争中，美国败下阵来。如今，中国掌握着全球80%的稀土供应。
目前，美国虽然有着丰富的稀土蕴藏量，但却没有可供商业化生产的矿山，也没有冶炼后制成零部件的产业基础。面对这种情况，要说没有危机意识那才奇怪。
不过，人们也不应该苛责埃伦·洛德。因为直到最近，美国国防部对稀土极度依赖中国的问题，总体上仍然是一副无所谓的态度。
炒作“稀土危机”近10年
2010年10月31日，彭博社报道了来自美国国防部工业政策办公室的一份未公开报告的部分内容。根据这份报告，当时奥巴马政府与日本等国一起，就中国限制稀土出口起诉至世界贸易组织（WTO），但美国防部发表的见解是“不会威胁到美国的国家安全”，“不会影响武器的生产”。
而在前文中提到的美国政府问责局的那份报告，一开始便批评称：“国防部内部有3个负责稀土的部门，但却没有采取全面的跨部门的措施，来确定哪种稀土对国家安全起决定性的重要作用。”
报告还同时指出，美国从稀土的开采到冶炼、加工的供应链都依赖中国，这让国防部可持续利用稀土变得困难。
不过，当时五角大楼发言人对此说法并不买账，称“无法苟同”。
事实上，美国国内认识到稀土供应问题的重要程度，还是近期的事情。这些原材料不仅对于武器，对于多种多样的民生用产品也是不可或缺的。
“跟大企业的人说起这件事，所有人几乎都说同样的话：‘你到底在说什么？我们公司想要的时候，都能够随时以合适的价格买到想要的量。’”得克萨斯稀土资源公司董事安东尼·马切斯如是说。这家公司希望将来能够实现稀土开采商业化。
这他看来，美国国内对稀土供应严重依赖中国的事实缺乏“危机意识”，这股钝感风潮并未退却。
“中国已不再是普通的交易国”
不过，五角大楼的“乐观情绪”其实正在消失。
首先可以想到的一个理由是，国防部2013年10月向国会提交的“工业能力年度报告”中列举了三点，分别是实现供应源的多元化、寻找可替代原材料、废弃物循环利用。然而，5年多时间过去，这三点中没有实现任何一点。
另一个理由是，来自中国的挑战正在迎来决定性的阶段。英国汇丰控股去年9月发布的经济预测称，中国国内生产总值（GDP）2030年将达到26万亿美元，超过美国的25.2万亿美元。此外，有不少预测都指出，中国早晚会成为世界第一大经济强国。
因此，2017年12月特朗普政府发布的首份《国家安全战略报告》便表明了姿态——中国和俄罗斯是挑战美国的对手。紧接着，2018年1月美国国防部发布的《国防战略报告》，也指责中国“欲在全球确立优势以取代美国”的意图。
在美国人看来，中国已经不再是“普通的交易国”。那么，美国也应该改变稀土的对华依赖现状。
2018年10月，美国国防部发布题为《评估和强化制造与国防工业基础及供应链弹性》的报告。这份由特朗普授意制定的报告，列举了约300个国防产业基础的具体弱点，其中也谈到了稀土的问题。
报告称，“中国在供应对于美国国家安全来说具有战略性和致命性的武器原材料，这种危险性越来越明显且在不断增大”。整份报告有232处提到“中国”“中国人”或者“北京”。
有一个值得注意的细节是，这份报告在2017年9月便已制定，却直到2018年10月才对外发布，比原计划晚了数月。
无解的矛盾
不过，指出问题和克服问题并不是一回事。
即便特朗普政府禁止从中国进口稀土，也不可能很快就确立起自己的稀土供应链。短期来看，美国几乎没有希望摆脱这种现状。
而中方对美国国防部的报告却是“付之一笑”。
中国媒体的评论认为，在目前经济全球化的时代，没有哪个国家的工业体系能不依赖其他国家而完全自成一体，五角大楼的这份报告只是近来美国强化‘中国威胁论’的又一说辞。”
的确，美国自己推进全球化到今天这种程度，现在又端出“国家安全”来煽动危机，不免有些机会主义。
对于特朗普政府来说，稀土问题无疑是一个无解的矛盾。
US Deputy Defense Secretary: US rare earth supply is almost entirely dependent on China
US Deputy Defense Secretary: US rare earth supply is almost entirely dependent on China
444
Among the many hidden secrets in the Pentagon, a "freshly known" fact shocked Ellen Lord, the deputy director of the US Department of Defense.
In a speech hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in April last year, Lord told the guests: "The United States is shockingly dependent on China!"
-- She refers to the fact that the supply of rare earths in the United States "is almost entirely dependent on China."
▲Information Picture: Ellen Lord ▲Information Picture: Ellen Lord
However, in some people's view, Lord's "shock" is slightly unexpected - the US military industry relies heavily on China's rare earths and has been smashed for nearly 10 years. Before serving as deputy director of the Department of Defense, Lord was the CEO of Textron Group, a large US military company. As an "industry person", Lord did not understand the inside story, which obviously made some people feel "unbelievable."
How serious is the dependence of the US military industry on China's rare earths? How worried is the United States? An article in the February 2018 issue of Japan's "Choice" magazine reinstated the "difficulties" of the US military industry.
The article pointed out that the globalization promoted by the United States has made its industrial system dependent on China, but now it has brought out "national security" to incite the crisis, and there is some opportunism. For the Trump administration, the issue of rare earth is undoubtedly a contradiction. The article on the reference message network is as follows:
Rare earth supply is heavily dependent on China
In February 2016, a report issued by the US Government Accountability Office pointed out that as early as nearly 10 years ago, many US government agencies, private think tanks, and the federal parliament continued to claim that "the US military cannot manufacture more than half of its weapons." The supply of rare earths is almost entirely dependent on China."
Among the rare metals, there are 17 special elements collectively referred to as rare earths. In particular, five kinds of rare earths such as lanthanum, cerium and lanthanum are indispensable raw materials for manufacturing weapons.
According to a report released by the US Congressional Bureau of Investigation in 2013, the Virginia-class attack-type nuclear submarine used 4.17 tons of rare earth, the Ali Burke-class destroyer used 2.36 tons of rare earth, and the F-35A fighter used 0.2 tons of rare earth. In addition, permanent magnets required for high-tech products such as lasers, sonars, radars, and satellite communication equipment are also rare earths.
▲Information picture: US military F-35B short-slung stealth fighter ▲ information picture: US military F-35B short-slung stealth fighter
In fact, in the 1980s, the US-made rare earths were fully able to meet the needs of the domestic military industry, but later in the price competition with China's import and export products, the United States lost. Today, China holds 80% of the world's rare earth supply.
At present, although the United States has abundant rare earth reserves, there are no mines for commercial production, and there is no industrial basis for making parts after smelting. In the face of this situation, it is strange to say that there is no sense of crisis.
However, people should not blame Ellen Lord. Because until recently, the US Department of Defense’s reliance on China for rare earths has remained an indifferent attitude.
Hype "Rare Earth Crisis" for nearly 10 years
On October 31, 2010, Bloomberg reported part of an undisclosed report from the Office of Industrial Policy of the US Department of Defense. According to the report, the Obama administration and Japan and other countries jointly prosecuted China’s restrictions on rare earth exports to the World Trade Organization (WTO), but the US Department of Defense issued the opinion that “it will not threaten the national security of the United States”. Affect the production of weapons."
The report of the US Government Accountability Office mentioned in the previous article criticized at the outset: "There are three departments responsible for rare earths within the Ministry of National Defense, but they have not adopted comprehensive cross-sectoral measures to determine which Rare earth plays a decisive role in national security."
The report also pointed out that the US supply chain from rare earth mining to smelting and processing relies on China, which makes it difficult for the Ministry of Defense to make sustainable use of rare earths.
However, the Pentagon spokesperson did not buy this statement at the time, saying that "cannot agree."
▲Information Picture: Pentagon ▲ Information Picture: Pentagon
In fact, the importance of recognizing the supply of rare earths in the United States is still a recent matter. These raw materials are indispensable not only for weapons but also for a wide range of products for people's livelihood.
“Speaking to people in big companies, almost everyone said the same thing: 'What the hell are you talking about? When we want it, we can always buy the right amount at the right price.'” Anthony Marches, director of Texas Rare Earth Resources, said. The company hopes to commercialize rare earth mining in the future.
In this view, the fact that the domestic supply of rare earths is heavily dependent on China lacks a “crisis awareness”, and this indiscriminate trend has not retreated.
"China is no longer an ordinary trading country"
However, the "optimism" of the Pentagon is actually disappearing.
One reason that can be thought of first is that the Ministry of Defence’s “Industrial Capability Annual Report” submitted to Congress in October 2013 lists three points: diversification of supply sources, search for alternative raw materials, and recycling of waste. However, after more than five years, no point has been achieved in these three points.
Another reason is that the challenge from China is coming to a decisive stage. The economic forecast released by HSBC in September last year said that China's gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 26 trillion US dollars in 2030, surpassing the US's 25.2 trillion US dollars. In addition, many predictions have pointed out that China will soon become the world's largest economic power.
Therefore, the first National Security Strategy Report released by the Trump administration in December 2017 showed a gesture – China and Russia are rivals to the United States. Then, in January 2018, the "Defense Strategy Report" issued by the US Department of Defense also accused China of its intention to "establish an advantage in the world to replace the United States."
In the eyes of the Americans, China is no longer an "ordinary trading country." Then, the United States should also change the status quo of dependence on China.
▲The picture shows the Shanghai Ocean Deepwater Port Phase IV unmanned terminal container yard. (Photo by Fang Wei) ▲ The picture shows the container terminal of the No. 4 unmanned terminal in the offshore mountain deepwater port. (Photo by Fang Wei)
In October 2018, the US Department of Defense issued a report entitled "Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defence Industry Foundation and Supply Chain Resilience." The report, commissioned by Trump, lists specific weaknesses of about 300 defense industry bases, including the issue of rare earths.
According to the report, "China's supply of weapons and raw materials that are strategic and fatal to US national security is becoming more and more obvious and growing." There are 232 references to “China”, “Chinese” or “Beijing” throughout the report.
One noteworthy detail is that the report was drafted in September 2017, but it was not released until October 2018, a few months later than originally planned.
Unsolved contradiction
However, pointing out problems and overcoming problems is not the same thing.
Even if the Trump administration bans the import of rare earths from China, it is unlikely that it will soon establish its own rare earth supply chain. In the short term, the United States has little hope of getting rid of this situation.
The Chinese report to the US Department of Defense is "pay a laugh."
The Chinese media commented that in the current era of economic globalization, no country's industrial system can be completely self-contained without relying on other countries. The Pentagon's report is only another rhetoric of the recent US strengthening of the "China threat theory." ”
Indeed, the United States itself promotes globalization to the extent that it is today, and now it has brought out "national security" to incite the crisis, and there is some opportunism.
For the Trump administration, the issue of rare earths is undoubtedly a contradiction.
